[Harp-L] Re: Bluegrass harmonica: Wakefield and Weiser on You

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Glenn, 

I've got some examples of what I was talking about on the alternate rhythm for bluegrass posted here: www.myspace.com/davidpaynesr  with "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Folsom Prison Blues" 
I'm so Lonesome I could Cry is in 3/4 time, on the I chord, I hit a straight 2-4 draw chord on the 2 and 3 beats, then on the other chords, I do octaves and stuff to break that "chop chop" chord monotany. 
The "Folsom Prison Blues" example is more like what I was talking about, with the chop rhythm taking up a measure and part of another, followed by rest. On the I chord, I play the 2-4 draw chord with a quick blow chord here and there like a downstroke on a guitar. I can and have, played like that all night without killing myself. 

Dave
________________
Dave Payne Sr.
Elk RIver Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


----- Original Message ----
From: Glenn Weiser <celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, March 8, 2008 5:42:20 PM
Subject: Re: Bluegrass harmonica: Wakefield and Weiser on You

Message: 8
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008 04:54:15 -0800 (PST)
From: David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Bluegrass harmonica: Wakefield and Weiser on You
Tube
To: Harp L Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <259705.46179.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Yeah, I watched that, but I didn't see Glenn Weiser in it. I mean, there was 
a harmonica player, but he didn't have a ponytail, so it can't be Glenn. 
Whoever this clean-cut guy is that's saying he's you, did very well. I play 
this style of music ALL the time, have been for years. I gotta say this guy 
has some notion of what a bluegrass rhythm is, I couldn't tell you how many 
harp players show up with bluegrassers and noodle around all over the place 
on rhythm. This guy who says he's you hits the 2 and 4, like he's supposed 
to.
-----------------------------
Dave-I didn't recognize myself either. I thought I still had long brown 
hair-something must have happened. But my wife was there and she says that's 
me. I believe her.-GW
--------------------------

How long does this guy keep up that rhythm? All night? Couple of songs? That 
incessant chop, chop, chop, chop, chop will kill you on the harp by the end 
of a set. What I do is hit the 2s and 4s in a patterns, like six beats on, 
two beats off, so it doesn't kill me. That is the greatest secret of 
bluegrass harmonica I have ever unlocked... the pattern I play depends on 
what the rhythm guitar is doing. It also gives a little Monrovian feel, if 
you listen closely to his mandolin rhythm, you notice he doesn't chop the 
mandolin in every measure.

---------------

Good tip-I'll remember that. I sat in for three songs with Frank, but I've 
kept that 2-4 thing for long periods in the past. Never knew there was an 
easier way-GW

____________

Sitting On Top of the World is a perfect example of how close the ties of 
blues and bluegrass are, or were. It's an old Walter Jacobs blues song that 
Bill Monroe recorded a couple years after Sonny Terry did. When Monroe did 
it in 1957, it became a bluegrass standard. It's one of NUMEROUS bluegrass 
songs that are actually 12 bar or 8 bar blues songs.
____________
Sitting on Top was first recorded by the Missisippi Sheiks circa1927, 
fyi._GW.
__________________________

Back to the harp playing, the leads were perfectly constructed. Started off 
with a familiar phrase of the song, goes into a little wildness, then ends 
with a tag that resolves the solo and intros the next guy's solo.

That's solid bluegrass.
_____________
Dave-You're too kind. Thanks. Glenn